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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: season · bear · lash · cabinet · jam · rock · present · rest

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. rock — music
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. present — there
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. present — a gift
  12. season — of the year
  13. rest — what's left
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. present — the time now
  16. rest — what's left
  17. rest — a break
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. bear — the animal
  21. season — in sport
  22. bear — the animal
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. jam — to spread on bread

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com